'I have so little time left!' Jane Fonda, 76, reveals she can't stop crying as she comes to terms with her own mortality

By Colette Fahy

PUBLISHED: 14:35 EST, 24 February 2014 | UPDATED: 15:54 EST, 24 February 2014

She may not look anywhere near her 76 years but Jane Fonda says she is well aware of her age. 

The Hollywood legend – who has made her career in an industry which isn't exactly kind to aging actresses - admits she has been brought to tears on more than one occasion recently as she comes to terms with her own mortality. 

In a thoughtful blog post entitled 'Crying', which has since been removed, Jane wrote: '[I've been thinking], how come my tears are so close to the surface? And I’ve come to feel it has to do with age. I have become so wonderfully, terribly aware of time, of how little of it I have left; how much of it is behind me, and everything becomes so precious (sic).'

Age-defying: Jane Fonda may look years younger than 76 but she says she can't stop crying lately as she comes to terms with her mortality

Age-defying: Jane Fonda may look years younger than 76 but she says she can't stop crying lately as she comes to terms with her mortality

Despite Jane worrying about her mortality, she believes getting older has its advantages, namely allowing her to appreciate the beauty in the world.

She said: 'With age, I am able to appreciate the beauty in small things more than when I was younger perhaps because I pay attention more. 

'I feel myself becoming part of everything. I seem to be super sensitive to people's joy and pain. I ache for unwanted children in the world, for polars bears, and elephants, and Monarch butterflies, and dolphins, gorillas and chimpanzees (sic).'

Taking stick: Jane admitted she is worrying about her mortality as she gets older

Taking stick: Jane admitted she is worrying about her mortality as she gets older

Most recently Jane found herself becoming emotional at her friend Kerry Washington’s baby shower on Sunday. 

She wrote: 'Today I was at Kerry Washington’s baby shower. She's 7 months pregnant and looking radiant. 

'It was a wonderful party with guests being asked to go into a photo booth and take 6 different poses that were then mounted on a black paper where we could write a message; signing a diaper (I wrote "I hope everything comes out alright!"), putting signed thumb prints onto a drawing of a tree - I had no idea there could be so many nice ways to commemorate the up-coming event and leave loving memories for mom and baby.

Sensitive: While she is not happy about getting older, Jane loves how it has made her more sensitive to the world around her

Sensitive: While she is not happy about getting older, Jane loves how it has made her more sensitive to the world around her

'I hadn't seen Kerry since she was pregnant and as soon as I saw her with her gorgeous belly I starting crying.

'Then Kerry's mother spoke, giving words of wisdom to Kerry and the rest of us about how to raise a baby to be a happy, fully realized, person. I started crying again (and it wasn’t because I wanted to go back and do my own raising of my own kids all over again with more wisdom, though that did press in on me) . . . it was because her words moved me (sic).

Celebrations make Jane cry too: At Kerry Washington's baby shower with [L-R] Kerry's sister-in-law Chisara Asomugha, Jane, Cicely Tyson, Kerry's sister-in-law Udo Asomugha (in red), Kerry, Diahann Carroll and Kerry's mother-in-law, Dr. Lilian Asomugha

Celebrations make Jane cry too: At Kerry Washington's baby shower with [L-R] Kerry's sister-in-law Chisara Asomugha, Jane, Cicely Tyson, Kerry's sister-in-law Udo Asomugha (in red), Kerry, Diahann Carroll and Kerry's mother-in-law, Dr. Lilian Asomugha

'I've listed sad things but what startles me even more is how I get emotional about nice things, like Kerry Washington’s belly and her mother’s words of wisdom and Elizabeth Lesser telling me about the new book she’s writing. Maybe because I'm older my heart is wider open, like a net that wants to catch all the things that matter (sic).'

The thrice-married prolific blogger, who has three children, also joked she is becoming so weepy these days that she can 'only wear waterproof mascara from now on'.

Putting younger stars to shame: The youthful actress looks years younger than 76

Putting younger stars to shame: The youthful actress looks years younger than 76



Comments (8)

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It is easy to come to terms with age when you have children and grandchildren that will provide your legacy. The difficulty comes when you think that whilst you have given them life you have also given them the dread of death, which is what Ms Fonda is suffering from. The only answer is to give them all your love whilst you are here and never forget to tell them how much they mean to you.

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And yet all those Vietnam POWs are OK with you dying Hanoi Jane ... Go figure ...

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Everybody has to die, whether we like it or not. Its guaranteed. When? Is open to debate of course.

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Aww so sad

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You can buy immortality with Divine Love.

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What about all the young soldiers who died in Vietnam, killed by the very communists she so dearly loved? Did they have time to come to terms with their mortality?

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Get over yourself.

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You gotta give it to her, she is in good nick.

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Maybe you shouldn't have wasted your spoiled rotten youth on drugs and communist front organizations!

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Everybody dies physically at some point. Some were not even blessed with reaching a quarter of your age. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, and your spirit will live forever.

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